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Windows Guides reader, Jas, asks the following question:

I installed SP2 and ever since my laptop has been a nightmare.  Shutdown takes between 4 and 5 minutes and involves an unnecessary screen  “CONFIGURING UPDATES”.  Boot is not so bad but still takes an agonising 3 to 4 minutes with screens displaying messages that stages 1 , 3 are being updated.  In both cases there are long periods of blank screens which gives the impression that the machine has stopped working completely.

Is there any way in which I can uninstall SP2 completely? I have tried the stand Vista update uninstall but it always fails with the message   “NOT ALL UPDATES WERE SUCCESSFULLY UNINSTALLED“.

This guide shows you how to remove Vista SP2 and answers Jas’ question about uninstalling Windows Vista SP2 when the conventional method doesn’t work.

Yesterday, I showed you how to remove service pack rollback files, which allow you to revert from SP2 to SP1 or from SP1 to no service pack. If you followed these instructions, this guide is of no use to you as the rollback files are gone and you are stuck with SP2.

Removing a Service Pack (Conventional Method)

This method should work in most cases:

  1. Click the Start button and click Control Panel
  2. Click Uninstall a program

    remove-service-pack01

  3. In the left-hand menu, click View installed updates

    remove-service-pack02

  4. Click Service Pack for Microsoft Windows (KB948465) and click Uninstall

    remove-service-pack03

  5. Wait for Windows to remove SP2

Removing a Service Pack (Command Line/System Restore)

If, like Jas, you get the following message:

Not all updates were successfully uninstalled

You can remove the service pack using system restore or the command line. Learn how with these instructions.

About Rich

Rich is the owner and creator of Windows Guides; he spends his time breaking things on his PC so he can write how-to guides to fix them.

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Comments

7 thoughts on “Remove Windows Vista SP2 [How To]”

  1. Remove Windows Vista SP2 Insta says:

    […] you are happy with your installation of Windows Vista SP2 (UPDATE: go here if you are not), you can remove the files, stored on your computer, that will allow a roll back. I only recommend […]

  2. Gordon says:

    The thing that he asking about, the “configuring updates” screen only happens once after installing the update(I mean, one when shut down, and one when boot up, but just that), so that’s not a good reason to remove a SP. Just be patience :D

  3. Gordon says:

    The thing that he asking about, the “configuring updates” screen only happens once after installing the update(I mean, one when shut down, and one when boot up, but just that), so that’s not a good reason to remove a SP. Just be patience :D

    1. Rich says:

      Gordon – It appears to happening every time, which signifies a major problem. I was not clear in the post that this is a reoccurring issue.

  4. Gordon says:

    The thing that he asking about, the “configuring updates” screen only happens once after installing the update(I mean, one when shut down, and one when boot up, but just that), so that’s not a good reason to remove a SP. Just be patience :D

    1. Rich says:

      Gordon – It appears to happening every time, which signifies a major problem. I was not clear in the post that this is a reoccurring issue.

  5. Rich says:

    Gordon – It appears to happening every time, which signifies a major problem. I was not clear in the post that this is a reoccurring issue.

Comments are closed.


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